Office of the Commissioner

Office of the Commissioner

Michelle S. Davis currently holds the position of Health Commissioner and Chief Public Health Officer for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Department of Health. In this role Ms. Davis leads an agency of dedicated public health professionals who work towards improving the health, wellness and wellbeing of USVI residents and visitors.

In her previous position as the Regional Health Administrator (RHA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) New York Regional office she served as the principal federal public health authority for the Secretary of DHHS, the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Surgeon General collaborating with public health partners throughout New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands.

Michelle S. Davis has worked as a public health professional in a variety of positions at the federal, state and municipal levels. She served as the Deputy State Health Officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Health where she oversaw a budget of $250 million and managed 600+ staff who provided services in the areas of epidemiology, policy and planning, community health, public health preparedness, response & recovery, emergency medical services & statewide laboratory testing.

She also served as the Deputy Regional Health Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WVA) where she coordinated regional/national programs, recommended policies and served on the federal emergency preparedness, response and recovery team. Other positions held include: Deputy Health Commissioner for Policy and Planning with the City of Philadelphia and Senior Epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during which she was deployed to the District of Columbia Department of Health to provide technical assistance for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program and serve as the Executive Director for MCH.

Michelle S. Davis has held several elected positions with professional organizations including; President and Chair of the Board of the Pennsylvania Public Health Association (PPHA), President and Vice- President of the Black Caucus of Health Workers of the American Public Health Association (APHA). She also served on the governing boards of the Public Health Association of New York City (President), Alpha Gamma Chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society (National Representative) and the American Public Health Association (Epidemiology Representative).

She was the honored recipient of the U.S. Public Health Service Greater New York Commissioned Officers Association “RADM Davidson Inspiration Award” (2013); Federal Executive Board, Federal Employee of the Year for Super Storm Sandy Response (2013); Assistant Secretary for Health Honor Awards (2010 & 2008) and the CDC/ATSDR Honor Award for Management Excellence (1999).

Michelle S. Davis matriculated at the University of Michigan at the undergraduate level and at the University of South Carolina, Johns Hopkins and the University of North Carolina where she majored in epidemiology for her graduate education.